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Perplexity setup

Perplexity provides cloud-based AI models that the coaching platform can use to analyse your coaching transcripts. API access requires a Perplexity Pro subscription.

Perplexity's reasoning model produces specific evidence with timestamps and alternative phrasings, but overall verdicts tend to be more generous than other rigorous providers. Cross-reference results with a more critical model for submission decisions.

Perplexity create API key

Perplexity create API key

Add Perplexity provider and model

Add Perplexity provider and model

Start ACC AI analysis

Start ACC AI analysis

AI assessment completed

AI assessment completed

Perplexity usage costs

Perplexity usage costs

Step 1: Create a Perplexity account​

  1. Go to perplexity.ai
  2. Click Sign up
  3. Create an account with your email address, or sign in with Google or Apple

Step 2: Subscribe to Pro​

  1. Click your profile icon and go to Settings
  2. Select Subscription
  3. Subscribe to Perplexity Pro

API access requires a Pro subscription. Without it, you cannot generate API keys.

Step 3: Create an API key​

  1. Go to Settings > API
  2. Click Generate API key
  3. Give it a name (e.g. "Coaching Platform")
  4. Copy the key immediately

Step 4: Configure the coaching platform​

  1. Open the coaching platform and go to Settings > AI
  2. Select Perplexity as your provider
  3. Paste your API key into the API Key field
  4. Choose a model. See Choosing a model for recommendations. sonar-reasoning-pro is the recommended model.
  5. Click Save

To test the connection, open any session with a recording and transcript, then click Generate AI Assessment.

Optimistic verdicts

Perplexity's sonar-reasoning-pro provides specific evidence but tends to produce more generous overall verdicts than Claude Sonnet or OpenAI o-series. In testing, it rated a session as "genuinely PCC-level" while other rigorous models assessed the same session as "not yet ready." Cross-reference with a more rigorous model before acting on submission recommendations.

Deprecated model

sonar-reasoning was deprecated in December 2025. Use sonar-reasoning-pro instead.

For context windows, output token budgets, and rate limits, see API limits.

Troubleshooting​

"API key invalid" error​

Verify the key is correct. Go to Settings > API in your Perplexity account and check that the key exists. If in doubt, create a new key and update it in the coaching platform.

"Unauthorized" or "Forbidden" error​

API access requires a Perplexity Pro subscription. Check that your subscription is active in Settings > Subscription.

Assessment seems overly positive​

This is a known characteristic of Perplexity's models. They provide good specific evidence but overall verdicts lean optimistic. For reliable submission decisions, cross-reference with OpenAI or Anthropic. See Choosing a model for a detailed comparison.